The United Nations reported that climate change has contributed to a near doubling of major natural disasters in the past two decades, with 7,348 events from 2000 to 2019, compared to 4,212 from 1980 to 1999. These disasters resulted in 1.23 million deaths, impacted 4.2 billion people, and cost $2.97 trillion. Climate-related disasters, especially extreme weather events such as floods and storms, are primarily responsible for this increase. UNDRR chief Mami Mizutori criticized governments for inadequate preparation and response to climate hazards. While some improvements in disaster management have reduced fatalities, the report underscores the rising impact of climate emergencies. Asia faced the highest number of disasters, with China leading in event occurrences. The report did not address biological hazards, pointing out that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic reflects a broader neglect among leaders towards emerging threats.
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